T H E B I B L E I N A Y E A R

WELCOME
Thank you for coming to First Presbyterian Church of
Orlando this morning! We worship together as a church
family in four services on Sundays: Traditional worship in
the Sanctuary at 8:15am and 11am, and Genesis worship
in the Sanctuary at 9:45am and in Lee Fellowship Hall at
11:00am.
Check in and let us know you’re here: visit our Legacy
Room for a cup of coffee and say hello, or text “FPCO” to
the number 313131.

SAVE THE DATE

• TODAY: Second Sunday. A time for coffee and
meeting new friends.
• TODAY: Information meeting for the family
Dominican Republic mission trip at 12:15pm in the
Student Ministry space (3rd floor of Allen Yowell
Hall)
• TODAY: New School of Discipleship classes begin.
Find out more at fpco.org/calendar.
• Through April 11: Recommendations for Elders and
Deacons-Class of 2021 can be submitted at
fpco.org/recommend.
• April 12: 6 Questions with Tim Giuliani. More details
at fpco.org/6questions.
• April 12: Join us and meet our missionaries at the
FaithServes Gathering from 7-9pm. More details
available from Alexa at arossi@fpco.org.
• April 18: Women's Cancer Support. Noon-1pm in
room 320A. A light lunch provided. Contact Maddy
Vilar at 407.423.3441 x1159.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ORLANDO
1 06 E AST CH UR CH STREET, ORLAN DO, FL 32 8 01
407.423.3441 | FPC O.ORG | EST. 1 8 7 6

APRIL 8, 2018

CONGREGATIONAL CARE
As a caring body of believers, please remember in your
prayers those who have recently been hospitalized or are
recuperating at home: Woody Blaker, David Berkebile,
and Michele Leavy.
Our sympathy to Cecil Hook on the death of his wife,
Jean Hook, March 7.
Also, Mark Griffin on the death of his brother, Danny Lee
Griffin, March 7.
To be added to our prayer list call the Pastoral Care office
at 407.423.3441 x1455, or submit an online prayer request at
fpco.org/prayerrequest.

FAMILIES AT FIRST PRES

First Pres has three rooms to help young families on
Sunday mornings: one nursing room for mothers & infants,
next to the Prayer Room, between the Sanctuary and Lee
Fellowship Hall, and a second nursing room for mothers &
infants, on the 1st floor of Clayton Life Center next to the
elevators.

In addition, we have a Family Room for infants, children and

dads :-) , also on the first floor of Clayton Life Center.​
All three rooms have a live television feed from the worship
services.

PARTICIPATION
IN GIVING
GENEROSITY
Stewardship Report as of April 1, 2018.
39.6%
FEBRUARY 2018
Thank you for your faithful generosity.
Because we believe participation (and not a dollar amount)
is key in our giving, we are now reporting our church’s
giving participation percentage weekly. ö
Our financial numbers will appear on a monthly basis for
continued transparency in budgeting.
Give easily and securely online from your smartphone at
fpco.org/mobile.
Genesis Worship
WELCOME
Welcome New Members (11:00)

Bible Project Video Judges

Prayer for Illumination Dr. David Swanson

*Scripture Reading Judges 7:1-21

pew bible p. 175

At the conclusion of our Scripture reading, the leader will say,

“This is the word of the Lord.” The congregation is invited to
respond, “Thanks be to God.”

Message Are We An Army or An Audience?

Assisting in Worship: Bret Allen and Wil Brown.

(Give securely on your smartphone at fpco.org/mobile)

* All who are able are invited to stand.

Our Genesis services utilize an environmental lighting effect

called haze, a theatrical humidifier to thicken the air to enhance
lighting. Both Lee Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary hazers are
water-based and safe.

NOTES
Traditional Worship
In our journey with The Year of the Book, we passed the
book of Leviticus a few weeks ago and we are in the
midst of 1 Samuel currently. I’d like to take us back to a
very important worship principle that comes out of the
first chapter of Leviticus. It is just a simple phrase with
tremendous ramification for every time we gather for
worship. It occurs in the fourth verse. The worshiper is to
lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering (an animal
that will be totally consumed by fire as an offering to the
Lord). With that single hand, the worshiper is identifying
as the one who personally owns the animal being offered.
Among the many things we could say in regards to
this, the single thing I want to point out is the personal
connection to the sacrifice. In Hebrews 13:15, the writer
speaks of a “sacrifice of praise.” How does all of this
translate into this morning’s worship? For example, when
Steve plays the organ praise, rather than simply listening
as an audience, personally identify with his hands and feet
in offering what he plays to the Lord as your own offering.
Imagine that it is you playing for the Lord and expressing
your joy and delight in Him. Lay your hand if you will, on
Steve’s shoulder and let his offering to the Lord, become
yours. This concept transfers to every part of worship. As
you have realized, there is no audience in worship except
for One. -Dr. Dan Sharp

(Please silence all phones and electronic devices

GATHERING
Prelude
Toccata on Christ the Lord Is Risen Today arr. bish

Welcome

Call to Worship
He Is Not Here! daniel sharp

*Processional Hymn of Praise no. 254

Alleluia! Alleluia! Hearts to Heaven Ode to Joy

*Ascription of Praise Psalm 9:1-10

Organ Praise

Pastoral Report
Welcome New Members (11:00)

*Passing of the Peace

Call to Prayer no. 815

Cast Thy Burden Upon the Lord from Elijah oratorio
felix mendelssohn

Pastoral Prayer

Hymn of Courage no. 741

The Battle Is the Lord’s Leoni

THANKSGIVING
Thanksgiving Through Tithes and Offerings

*Doxology with “alleluia’s" Lasst uns erfreuen

*Prayer of Commitment

(Give securely on your smartphone at fpco.org/mobile)

Anthem of Courage michael joncas

On Eagle’s Wings The Chancel Choir

PROCLAMATION OF GOD’S WORD

Bible Project Video Judges

Prayer for Illumination Dr. David Swanson

*Scripture Reading Judges 7:1-21
pew bible p. 175

At the conclusion of our Scripture reading, the leader will say,

“This is the word of the Lord.” The congregation is invited to
respond, “Thanks be to God.”

Message Are We An Army or An Audience?

RESPONSE
*Hymn of Courage no. 669
God of Grace and God of Glory cwm rhondda

*Invitation and Charge

*Benediction

*Choral Response
Alleluia! Amen eugene butler

Postlude
Rondo in G bull/deSilva

* All who are able are invited to stand.

Assisting in Worship: Dr. Case Thorp, Dr. Daniel Sharp, and

organist, Steve Strite.

YEAR OF THE BOOK!

THIS WEEK'S DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. Have you ever had something you knew you
needed to do, but were afraid to do it? What helped
you to finally do it?
2. For what reason does God say to Gideon that he
has too many men (v. 2)?
3. God says that if Gideon is afraid, he is to do what
(v. 10)? Why?
4. In the story of Gideon, God is able to provide victory
without fighting. It is one of the least violent stories
in the book of Judges. How is God able to provide
victory? What role does faithfulness and obedience
play?
5. Gideon desires continued assurances from God
before he completes what God is asking him to
do. How do you listen to God as you contemplate
decisions and direction in life? How might Dallas
Willard’s writing on the three “lights” help you to
hear the voice of God? What might you do to better
listen?
6. In the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), Jesus
commands us to go out into the world to make
disciples. In a culture that is increasingly more
resistant to Christianity, what does the story of
Gideon teach us about our task as Christians today?
7. The Israelite army was reduced from 32,000 men to
only 300. With such a small group, God was able to
do something amazing. What does this story say to
you about the power of God, working through His
people?

*This week's Year of the Book reading:

1 Samuel 25-2 Samuel 18.
 APRIL 20 - 22

We welcome back singer/song-

writer, Allen Levi, to his second
Lifefest with us. You don't want to
miss this great storyteller!

This is an overnight retreat for

anyone in the church. The
purpose of LifeFest is to be
together as a church family, be
encouraged in our faith, and to
retreat together!

Don’t miss out...space is limited!

Register at
fpco.org/lifefest